NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Homosexuality in ancient Greece

In classical antiquity, writers such as Herodotus,^[1] Plato,^[2] Xenophon,^[3] Athenaeus^[4] and many others explored aspects of same-sex love in ancient Greece. The most widespread and socially significant form of close same-sex sexual relations in ancient Greece was between adult men and adolescent boys, known as pederasty. It is unclear how such relations between women were regarded in the general society, but examples do exist as far back as the time of Sappho.^[5] Image File history File links Homosexual_scene_-_420_BCE,_Dinos_painter_-_Capua_-_GR_1772. ... Image File history File links Homosexual_scene_-_420_BCE,_Dinos_painter_-_Capua_-_GR_1772. ... Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, which begins roughly with the earliest-recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century AD... Herodotus of Halicarnassus (Greek: HÄ“rÃ³dotos HalikarnÄsseÃºs) was a Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BC (c. ... For other uses, see Plato (disambiguation). ... Xenophon, Greek historian Xenophon (In Greek , ca. ... Athenaeus (ca. ... Pederastic courtship scene Athenian black-figure amphora, 5th c. ... For other uses, see Sappho (disambiguation). ...

Context

The ancient Greeks did not conceive of sexual orientation as a social identifier, as Western societies have done for the past century. Greek society did not distinguish sexual desire or behavior by the gender of the participants, but by the extent to which such desire or behavior conformed to social norms. These norms were based on gender, age and social status.^[5] There is little extant source material on how females viewed sexual activity. There are two main views of male sexual activity in ancient Greek society. Some scholars, such as Kenneth Dover and David Halperin, claim that it was highly polarized into "active" and "passive" partners, penetrator and penetrated, an active/passive polarization held to be associated with dominant and submissive social roles: the active (penetrative) role was associated with masculinity, higher social status, and adulthood, while the passive role was associated with femininity, lower social status, and youth.^[5] In this view, any sexual activities in which a male penetrated a social inferior was regarded as normal; "social inferiors" could include women, male youths, foreigners, prostitutes, or slaves; and being penetrated, especially by a social inferior, was considered potentially shameful.^[5] Sexual orientation refers to an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, or affectional attraction toward others,[1] usually conceived of as classifiable according to the sex or gender of the persons whom the individual finds sexually attractive. ... Sir Kenneth Dover, Chancellor Emeritus of the University of St Andrews Sir Kenneth James Dover, FRSE, FBA (born March 11, 1920) is a distinguished British academic who was Chancellor of the University of St Andrews from 1981 until his retirement in December 2005. ... David Halperin (born April 2, 1952) is an American theorist in the fields of gender studies, queer theory, critical theory, material culture and visual culture. ...

Other scholars, however, argue that male-male relations usually involved an adult male and a youth: the older male took the active (penetrative) role.^[6]^[7] They also describe them as "warm," "loving," and "affectionate," ^[8] and argue that the Greek tradition of same-sex relations was central to "Greek history and warfare, politics, art, literature and learning, in short to the Greek miracle."^[9]

Pederasty

The most common form of same-sex relationships between males in Greece was "paiderastia" meaning "boy love". It was a relationship between an older male and an adolescent youth. In Athens the older man was called erastes, he was to educate, protect, love, and provide a role model for his beloved. His beloved was called eromenos whose reward for his lover lay in his beauty, youth, and promise. Pederastic courtship scene Athenian black-figure amphora, 5th c. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1215x1120, 171 KB) Description See also: side A, a cup-bearer serving wine. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1215x1120, 171 KB) Description See also: side A, a cup-bearer serving wine. ... In the pederastic tradition of Classical Athens, the eromenos (Greek á¼ÏÏŒÎ¼ÎµÎ½Î¿Ï‚, pl. ... In the pederastic tradition of Classical Athens, the eromenos (Greek á¼ÏÏŒÎ¼ÎµÎ½Î¿Ï‚, pl. ...

Elaborate social protocols existed to protect youths from the shame associated with being sexually penetrated. The eromenos was supposed to respect and honor the erastes, but not to desire him sexually. Although being courted by an older man was practically a rite of passage for young men, a youth who was seen to reciprocate the erotic desire of his erastes faced considerable social stigma.^[5]

The ancient Greeks, in the context of the pederastic city-states, were the first to describe, study, systematize, and establish pederasty as a social and educational institution. It was an important element in civil life, the military, philosophy and the arts.^[10] There is some debate among scholars about whether pederasty was widespread in all social classes, or largely limited to the aristocracy.

The morality of pederasty was closely investigated in ancient Greece, some aspects being considered base and others idealized as the best that life had to offer. In Plato's Laws, carnal pederasty is described as "contrary to nature"; however, the speakers in this dialogue acknowledge that an effort to abolish pederasty would be unpopular in most Greek city-states.^[11]^[12]^[5] The Laws is Platos last and longest dialogue. ...

In the military

The Sacred Band of Thebes, a separate military unit reserved only for men and their beloved youths, is usually considered as the prime example of how the ancient Greeks used love between soldiers in a troop to boost their fighting spirit. The Thebans attributed to the Sacred Band the power of Thebes for the generation before its fall to Philip II of Macedon, who was so impressed with their bravery during battle, he erected a monument that still stands today on their gravesite. He also gave a harsh criticism of the Spartan views of the band: When the topic of homosexuality in the militaries of Ancient Greece is discussed, the Sacred Band of Thebes is usually considered as the prime example of how the Ancient Greeks used homoerotic or homosexual relationships between soldiers in a troop to boost the fighting spirit of their militaries. ... The Sacred Band of Thebes (ancient Greek: ) was a troop of picked soldiers, numbering 150 age-structured which formed the elite force of the Theban army in the 4th century BC.[1] It was organized by the Theban commander Gorgidas in 378 BC and it played a crucial role in... Thebes (Θῆβαι Thívai) is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. ... Philip II of Macedon: victory medal (niketerion) struck in Tarsus, 2nd c. ...

These bonds, reflected in episodes from Greek mythology, such as the heroic relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in the Iliad, were thought to boost morale as well as bravery. They typically took the form of pederasty, with more egalitarian relationships being rarer. Such relationships were documented by many Greek historians and in philosophical discourses, as well as in offhand remarks such as Philip II of Macedon's recorded by Plutarch demonstrates: The bust of Zeus found at Otricoli (Sala Rotonda, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican) Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. ... For other uses, see Achilles (disambiguation). ... A cup depicting Achilles bandaging Patroklos arm, by the Sosias Painter. ... title page of the Rihel edition of ca. ... Pederastic courtship scene Athenian black-figure amphora, 5th c. ... Egalitarianism is the moral doctrine that equality ought to prevail among some group along some dimension. ... Philip II of Macedon: victory medal (niketerion) struck in Tarsus, 2nd c. ... Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Î Î»Î¿ÏÏ„Î±ÏÏ‡Î¿Ï‚; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ...

During the Lelantine War between the Eretrians and the Chalcidians, before a decisive battle the Chalcidians called for the aid of a warrior named Cleomachus. He answered their request, bringing his lover to watch. Leading the charge against the Eretians he brought the Chalcidians to victory at the cost of his own life. The Chalcidians erected a tomb for him in the marketplace in gratitude, and adopted pederasty. Boeotia or Beotia (//, (Greek Î’Î¿Î¹Ï‰Ï„Î¹Î±; see also list of traditional Greek place names) was the central area of ancient Greece. ... For modern day Sparta, see Sparti (municipality). ... For other uses, see Crete (disambiguation). ... This article is about the mythological figure, for the Macedonian king see Meleager (king). ... For other uses, see Achilles (disambiguation). ... Aristomenes was a king of Messenia, celebrated for his struggle with the Spartans, and his resistance to them on Mount Ira for 11 years. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For information about the modern board game of the same name, see Epaminondas (game). ... The Lelantine War was a long battle between Eretria and Chalcis at the end of the 8th century BC. Eretria was defeated, losing a sum of land in Boeotia. ... This is an article about the Greek city of Eretria. ... Coordinates 38Â°28â€² N 23Â°36â€² E Country Greece Periphery Central Greece Prefecture Euboea Population 53,584 source (2001) Area 30. ... A marketplace is the space, actual or metaphorical, in which a market operates. ...

Love between adult men

Given the importance in Greek society of cultivating the masculinity of the adult male and the perceived feminizing effect of being the passive partner, relations between adult men of comparable social status were considered highly problematic, and usually associated with social stigma. However, examples of such couples are occasionally found in the historical record. Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ...

Achilles and Patroclus

The first recorded appearance of a deep emotional bond between adult men in ancient Greek culture was in the Iliad (800 BC). Although Homer does not explicitly depict the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus as sexual, by the beginning of the Classical era (480 BC) the two heroes were interpretated as pederastic icons. Since the ancient Greeks were uncomfortable with any perception of Patroclus and Achilles as adult equals, they tried to establish a clear age difference between the two. There was disagreement on whom to make the erastes and whom the eromenos, since the Homeric tradition made Patroclus out to be older but Achilles dominant. Other ancients held that Achilles and Patroclus were simply close friends. Enlarge Achilles bandages the arm of his friend Patroclus. ... title page of the Rihel edition of ca. ... Centuries: 10th century BC - 9th century BC - 8th century BC Decades: 850s BC 840s BC 830s BC 820s BC 810s BC - 800s BC - 790s BC 780s BC 770s BC 760s BC 750s BC Events and Trends 804 BC - Hadad-nirari IV of Assyria conquers Damascus. ... For other uses, see Achilles (disambiguation). ... A cup depicting Achilles bandaging Patroklos arm, by the Sosias Painter. ... This article describes the ancient classical period: for the classical period in music (second half of the 18th century): see Classical music era. ... The Persian invasion of Greece in 480-479 BC May â€” King Xerxes I of Persia marches from Sardis and onto Thrace and Macedonia. ...

Aeschylus in the tragedy Myrmidons made Achilles the protector since he had avenged his love’s death even though the gods told him it would cost his own life. However Phaedrus asserts that Homer emphasized the beauty of Achilles which would qualify him, not Patroclus, as “eromenos”. This article is about the ancient Greek playwright. ... The Myrmidons (or Myrmidones ÎœÏ…ÏÎ¼Î¹Î´ÏŒÎ½ÎµÏ‚) were an ancient nation of Greek mythology. ... Phaedrus, Â¹ (15 B.C. â€“ AD 50), Roman fabulist, was by birth a Macedonian and lived in the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius and Claudius. ... This article is about the Greek poet Homer and the works attributed to him. ...

Historical adult male couples

Among the historical male couples, where both partners were adults, are Euripides, in his seventies, and Agathon, already in his forties. The legendary love between Alexander the Great and his childhood friend, Hephaistion is sometimes regarded as being of the same order. A statue of Euripides. ... Agathon (c. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ... Hephaestion (born ca. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ...

Sapphic love

Sappho, a poet from the island of Lesbos, wrote many love poems addressed to women and girls. The love in these poems is sometimes requited, and sometimes not. Sappho is thought to have written close to 12,000 lines of poetry on her love for other women. Of these, only about 600 lines have survived. As a result of her fame in antiquity, she and her land have become emblematic of love between women, although she apparently was in fact bisexual. This article is about same-sex desire and sexuality among women. ... For other uses, see Sappho (disambiguation). ... Lesbos (Modern Greek: Lesvos (Î›ÎÏƒÎ²Î¿Ï‚), Turkish: Midilli), is a Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea. ...

Pedagogic erotic relationships are also documented for Sparta, together with athletic nudity for women. Plato's Symposium mentions women who "do not care for men, but have female attachments."^[14] In general, however, the historical record of love and sexual relations between women is sparse.^[5] This article covers the history of Sparta from its founding to the present, concentrating primarily on the Spartan state during the height of its power from the 6th to the 4th century BCE. // Tradition relates that Sparta was founded by its first king Lacedaemon, son of Zeus and Taygete, who... The Symposium is a philosophical dialogue written by Plato sometime after 385 BC. It is a discussion on the nature of love, taking the form of a series of speeches, both satirical and serious, given by a group of men at a symposium or drinking party at the house of...

Scholarship and controversy

After a long hiatus marked by censorship of homosexual themes,^[15] modern historians picked up the thread, starting with Erich Bethe in 1907 and continuing with K. J. Dover and many others. These scholars have shown that same-sex relations were openly practiced, largely with official sanction, in many areas of life from the 7th century BC until the Roman era.

Although this perspective is the scholarly consensus in North America and Northern Europe, some scholars believe that homosexual relationships, especially pederasty, were common only among the aristocracy, and that such relationships were not widely practiced by the common people (demos). One such scholar is Bruce Thornton, who argues that insults directed at passive homosexuals in the comedies of Aristophanes show the common people's dislike for male homosexuality.^[16] Other scholars, such as Victoria Wohl, emphasize that in Athens, same-sex desire was part of the "sexual ideology of the democracy," shared by the elite and the demos, as exemplified by the tyrant-slayers, Harmodius and Aristogeiton.^[17] Even those who argue that pederasty was limited to the upper classes generally concede that it was "part of the social structure of the polis."^[18] Outside academia, both opponents of LGBT rights and Greek nationalists have latched on to the argument that homosexuality was limited to the elite for political purposes. For other uses, see DEMOS (disambiguation). ... Bruce S. Thornton is a classicist at California State University, Fresno. ... For other uses, see Aristophanes (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital of Greece. ... Statue of Harmodius and Aristogeiton, Naples. ... LGBT rights Around the world By country History Â· Groups Â· Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage Â· Adoption Opposition Â· Discrimination Violence This box: LGBT rights opposition refers to various movements or attitudes which oppose the extension of certain rights to lesbian and gay people, and by extension to bisexuals, and...

The subject has caused controversy in modern Greece. In 2002, a conference on Alexander the Great was stormed as a paper about his homosexuality was about to be presented. When the film Alexander, which depicted Alexander as romantically involved with both men and women, was released in 2004, 25 Greek lawyers threatened to sue the film's makers,^[19] but relented after attending an advanced screening of the film.^[20] Alexander is a 2004 epic film, based on the life of Alexander the Great. ...

See also

When the topic of homosexuality in the militaries of Ancient Greece is discussed, the Sacred Band of Thebes is usually considered as the prime example of how the Ancient Greeks used homoerotic or homosexual relationships between soldiers in a troop to boost the fighting spirit of their militaries. ... Effeminacy (Greek: ανανδρια; μαλακια; Latin: mollites) is applied to men who have the quality of unmanliness, softness, or delicacy. ... Tomb of the Diver The topic of pederasty, one that took pride of place over the love of women in the erotic lives of Greek aristocrats in general and 5th century BC Athenians in particular[1], was the subject of extensive analysis in the Greek philosophical schools as well as... Alcibiades and friend Victorian view of interaction between a Greek adolescent and an adult male Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Phidias Showing the Frieze of the Parthenon to his Friends (1868) Greek love is a relatively modern coinage (almost universally placed within quotation marks) intended as a euphemistic reference to male-to...

Notes

^ Herodotus Histories 1.135
^ Plato, Phaedrus 227a
^ Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.6.28, Symposium 8
^ Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 13:601-606
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Oxford Classical Dictionary entry on homosexuality, pp.720–723; entry by David M. Halperin.
^ T.K. Hubbard, Review of D.M. Halperin How to Do the History of Homosexuality in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2003.09.22
^ D.H. Mader, "The Greek Mirror: The Uranians and their Use of Greece." in Same-Sex Desire and Love in Greco-Roman Antiquity and in the Classical Tradition of the West, ed. B. C. Verstraete and V. Provencal, Harrington Park Press, 2005, pp.411-412
^ Keith DeVries, in M. Duberman, ed., Queer Representations: Reading Lives, Reading Cultures (New York 1997)
^ W.A. Percy, III, "Reconsiderations about Greek Homosexualities," in Same-Sex Desire and Love in Greco-Roman Antiquity and in the Classical Tradition of the West, ed. B. C. Verstraete and V. Provencal, Harrington Park Press, 2005, pp.47-48
^ Golden M. - Slavery and homosexuality in Athens. Phoenix 1984 XXXVIII : 308-324
^ Plato, Laws 636, 838–841
^ Nussbaum 1994, p. 1633.
^ Plutarch Pelopidas 18.
^ Plato, Symposium 191e
^ Rictor Norton, Critical Censorship of Gay Literature
^ Thornton, pp. 195-6.
^ Wohl, pp. 6-7.
^ Thornton, pp. 195-6.
^ "Bisexual Alexander angers Greeks", bbc.co.uk, BBC News, 2004-11-22. Retrieved on 2006-08-25.
^ "Greek lawyers halt Alexander case", bbc.co.uk, BBC News, 2004-12-03. Retrieved on 2006-08-25.

The Oxford Classical Dictionary (OCD) is the standard one-volume encyclopedia in English of topics relating to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. ... Phoenix, originally The Phoenix, is one of two journals of the Classical Association of Canada (the other is Mouseion), and the oldest classics journal published in Canada. ... The domain name bbc. ... This article refers to the news department of the British Broadcasting Corporation, for the BBC News Channel see BBC News (TV channel). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The domain name bbc. ... This article refers to the news department of the British Broadcasting Corporation, for the BBC News Channel see BBC News (TV channel). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Literature

Suzanne Lilar in the 1980 Suzanne Lilar (born Suzanne Verbist) (b. ... Sir Kenneth Dover, Chancellor of the University of St Andrews Sir Kenneth James Dover, FRSE, FBA (born March 11, 1920) is a distinguished British academic who is currently Chancellor of the University of St Andrews. ... K. J. Dover â€“ Greek Homosexuality Greek Homosexuality is a scholarly work by K.J. Dover, published in 1978 and discussing the practices and attitudes of the ancient Greeks toward homosexuality, based on archaelogical and literary sources. ... David Halperin (born April 2, 1952) is an American theorist in the fields of gender studies, queer theory, critical theory, material culture and visual culture. ... The Oxford Classical Dictionary (OCD) is the standard one-volume encyclopedia in English of topics relating to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. ... William Armstrong Percy, III, (born 10 December 1933) is a professor, historian, encyclopedist, and gay activist. ... Bruce S. Thornton is a classicist at California State University, Fresno. ... LGBT history refers to the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender cultures around the world, dating back to the first recorded instances of same-sex love and sexuality within ancient civilizations. ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... From the tomb of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep. ... Enlarge Achilles bandages the arm of his friend Patroclus. ... Prior to the Third Reich, Berlin was considered a liberal city, with many gay bars, nightclubs and cabarets. ... LGBT rights Around the world By country History Â· Groups Â· Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage Â· Adoption Opposition Â· Discrimination Violence This box: The Stonewall riots were a series of violent conflicts between New York City police officers and groups of gay and transgender people that began during the early... // Relatively little is known about pre-colonial Singapore, let alone the history of homosexuality during this period. ... // Since its humble beginnings as a hobbyist website hosted on Geocities in March 1999, the year 2000 saw the tremendous growth of www. ... LGBT rights Around the world Â· By country History Â· Groups Â· Activists Same-sex relationships Opposition Â· Persecution Violence Lesbian American history is the history of women who are attracted to other women, or Lesbians, in the United States. ... LGBT rights Around the world By country History Â· Groups Â· Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage Â· Adoption Opposition Â· Discrimination Violence This box: This timeline of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) history details notable events in the Common Era West. ... International recognition Civil unions and Domestic partnerships Recognized in some regions Unregistered co-habitation Recognition debated See also Same-sex marriage Civil union Registered partnership Domestic partnership Timeline of same-sex marriage Listings by country This box: A timeline of significant events regarding same-sex marriage and legal recognition of... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Â· Other religions Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Luther Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Catholic Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: For Biblical... // It is speculated that many men in ancient Greece sought homosexual relationships because of the low intellectual status of women, as in classical Athens. ... Although state-recognized same-sex marriage is a relatively new phenomenon in Western society, there is a long history of same-sex unions around the world. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Gay rights in the Philippines. ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... A civil union ceremony in Wellington, December 2006. ... For the LGBT rights article for a particular country, see LGBT rights by country. ... Bisexuality has a universal history. ...

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